I was inspired to write this draft a few years ago, during a very emotional and trying time in my life. On a handful of occasions since I have thought about sharing it publicly, but until now it has just sat in my desk, ripening, calling me back from time to time, but in each instance I wasn’t ready.I recently heard some news from a dear friend that has moved me to take it out and dust it off, and now my heart is trumping my head and I want to share it - with the hope it will help and inspire others the way it has helped and inspired me.

Jim Valvano was a legendary college basketball coach, who, at the age of 47, died of cancer in the prime of his career. He gave a speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards in March. By the end of April he was gone.

Please take a moment to watch this thirty-second clip; it has the potential to change your life.

Jimmy V told the world that each day we should endeavor to do three things: Laugh. Think. Cry. If you do those three things, he said “that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special.”

I find that as events overtake us and we get glimpses of our own mortality, Jim Valvano’s counsel rings more true than ever before: Laugh. Think. Cry.

So I have an idea. Social media has been amazing tool that has allowed me to communicate with many Staten Islanders. While at times that dialogue has proven to be more than a bit trying, in many instances it has reminded me how many genuinely good folks are out there. So let’s help each other.

Let’s start Laugh, Think, Cry Fridays (LTCF). I will post ‪#‎LTCF‬ and anyone inclined can post below it their laugh, think or cry moment of the week. Who knows? It could be cathartic and maybe together we can push back against the minutiae of life that often derails us from appreciating what truly matters. Perhaps it will offer us a measure of solace and support as we each navigate those serious hurdles life places in front of each of us, or maybe it simply will provide us with a moment’s relief and a smile.